Frame.



F. STEAD.

FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12 1910.

Patented Feb. 7, 1911.

v WIT/E8858:

BY I v ATTORNEY .THE NORRIS PETERS 00., WASHINGTON, uc.

FRANK STEAD, F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

FRAME.

Patented Feb. 7, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, F RANK STEAD, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Frames, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention has reference to a frame for miniature pictures, advertising buttons, and the like, and has for its object to provide a frame of the most practical and yet inexpensive construction, the same being formed of sheet metal and having a stiffening and ornamental band about it, the body of the frame being constructed and said band attached thereto without the use of solder.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a front view of my improved frame. Fig. 2- is a central sectional elevation through the frame showing the retaining lugs or fingers bent inward for locking the pictures or advertising matter into said frame. ig. 3 is a central sectional elevation of the inclosing frame, showing the securing fingers engaging the narrow ornamental band for the purpose of securing it firmly in position about the body of the frame. Fig. 4-- is a side elevation of the frame showing the ends of the ornamental wire abutting at a point where both of said ends are inclosed and fastened by one of the securing fingers without the use of solder, said securing finger being broken away. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the blank as it is cut from the sheet stock and having alternate retaining and securing fingers projecting from its periphery. Fig. 6 shows a short section of wire used as an ornamental band around the body of the frame.

In the drawings there is shown a frame preferably constructed of thin sheet metal and drawn up into the form of a broad ring 1, being circular or other desired shape, and having its upper edge turned over and inward, as at 2, forming a retaining edge or bezel against which the face of a small photograph, miniature picture, advertise ment, or other matter which it may be desired to inclose within a frame, may be retained. The lower edge 3 of this sheet metal ring is provided when formed, with a plurality of downwardly projecting fingers some of which 4: (hereinafter termed retaining fingers), are for the purpose of being bent inward as illustrated in Fig. 2 to retain the picture and its packing in position in the frame, while the alternate fingers 5, preferably a little longer than fingers 4 and (hereinafter termed securing fingers), are for the purpose of being bent outward and around the ornamental band of wire 6, as illustrated in Fig. 3, to secure said band in position around the body of the frame. This band 6 may be constructed of wire or of any other desired material. The band may serve the purpose of lending to the frame body either ornamentation or strength, or both. In some cases in addi tion to serving as an ornamentation for the frame it also serves to stiffen the same and protect it against being bent or otherwise injured. At present one of the worms in which this band is made is by twisting narrow pieces of flat wire, or'by twisting together strands of wire into rope form. The band is then bent around the body of the frame, its ends abut-ting, as at '7, see Figs. 1 and l, and the securing fingers turned outward around said band engaging it at inter vals and firmly binding and holding it around and to the lower edge of the outside of the frame. One of said fingers 5 is arranged to turn over, inclose, bind, and secure both of the abutting ends as at 7, so that they are completely covered and at the same time firmly bound and held in position without the use of solder. In inserting the picture or advertising matter into this frame a piece of celluloid or glass 8, if desired, may be first passed in from the back until it rests against the edge 2 which forms the bezel. The picture 9 may then be positioned after which the backing piece 10 may be set in place and the fingers 4.4 turned inward over the same securing the whole firmly in position in the frame. To this backing piece may be attached any ordinary style of securing pin stem 11, or any desired means of fastening the frame to the wearer may be employed.

In constructing frames of this character, or in fact any thinly plated metal work, it is very desirable for many practical reasons well known in the art, to avoid the use of solder, and consequently the heat necessary for this soldering operation.

It will be seen that I have accomplished the construction of this frame in a most simple and practical way, entirely obviating the use of solder, it being only necessary to bend the little lugs or fingers 5 which I have formed on the frame to secure the ornamentation to the frame and the other fingers t to secure the picture, advertising matter, or the like, within the frame.

This frame is more particularly adapted for use for miniature pictures, and inexpensive photographs. It is also used in campaign work, and they are turned out in very large quantities, or by the thousands The essential qualifications for this frame are that they shall be neat and attractive in appearance, strong and durable, and also extremely inexpensive of construction, all of which requirements have been fully met by my present improved device. Another feature of my construction is that the frame and the band may each be made of different colored metal, for instance the frame may 7 be plated with gold and the band with silver,

thereby making a contrast and adding considerably to the ornamentation of the device. This could not be done if solder were used in joining the two members together as the heat would at once discolor and blacken the silver.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

A frame comprising a body portion formed of sheet metal, said body having one edge turned inward forming a bezel and having a series of fingers formed on its opposite edge, an ornamental band of wire having normally free ends surrounding said opposite edge of the frame, some of said fingers being bent over said band to secure its ends together and to hold the band close to the edge of the frame from which the fingers project, other fingers of the series being free and adapted to be bent to hold articles in the frame.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK STEAD. Vitnesses I-IowAm) E. BARLOW, Gr. CnossLnY. 

